France Escalates Heat Crisis as Canicule Risks Match 2003 Severity

Overview

• Météo‑France has widened heat alerts to more than 50 departments and expects about 60 to be under orange vigilance by Saturday, with several likely to move to the highest red level from Sunday as nights stay unusually warm.
• The prime minister’s office will activate the centre interministériel de crise on Saturday to coordinate ministries on health, transport and education, a move meant to streamline emergency staffing and local responses.
• Schools and exams are already being disrupted: 784 schools and middle schools have changed hours or closed and roughly 4,000 baccalauréat oral exams have been postponed to limit heat exposure for students and staff.
• Local authorities have cancelled or rescheduled many Fête de la musique events while the interior minister says no blanket national ban will be imposed; separately the Paris police prefecture has prohibited LFI’s planned concert at Place de la République and LFI has lodged an appeal.
• Airparif warns of imminent ozone exceedances in Île‑de‑France that could trigger reintroduction of 'circulation différenciée' vehicle restrictions, and health services are reinforcing emergency teams as officials warn the heat could strain hospitals, transport and public services.